Pace Car

Is your community concerned about pedestrian safety and unsafe driving? Are you looking for a way to engage community members to create a pedestrian-friendly community?

Become a Parachute Pace Car Community!

What is Pace Car?

The Pace Car program is a locally delivered, nation-wide program that focuses on raising awareness around speed reduction in the community, especially in school zones and pedestrian-dense areas.

The Pace Car program involves seeking out community members to sign up as Pace Car drivers. Participants will sign the Pace Car Supporters Pledge and proudly display the official Pace Car emblems on their car window.

Many Pace Cars work to calm traffic throughout a neighbourhood - the more people who participate, the better it works!

What is the Pace Car Pledge?

Residents agree to drive the posted speed limit. Cars become a "mobile speed bump" slowing speeding traffic behind them. Traffic is not only calmed on one street, but throughout a neighbourhood. Drivers also agree to be more aware of, and courteous to, other road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists, and to minimize car use by using active transportation (walking, cycling, etc.), using transit, and car-pooling.

To reduce the chance of road rage, it's important for Pace Car drivers to display the Pace Car stickers so other motorists know why they are driving courteously. If someone urgently wishes to pass, a Pace Car driver simply pulls over and lets them by.

Register and Order FREE Resources:

Register here to order free window clings for your Pace Car community. Access all of the program tools and resources online- just scroll down to the bottom of this page!

Pace Car Grants 2016-2020

Parachute awarded grants ($1000 each) to three “Pace Car Communities” across Canada. These grants will be used to help organize launch events, promote the program and resources, and conduct an evaluation of the Pace Car Program in the community from September to May, over a four-year period. This will allow us to measure the long-term impact of the program.

Congratulations to the following three Pace Car Grant Recipients:

Town of Alberton, Alberton, PEI

Safe Communities Assiniboia, Assiniboia, SK

City of Vernon, Vernon, BC

Why Minimize Car Use?

Social Communities

When not in cars, communities can reclaim the streets by using them more often for walking, cycling and neighbourhood socializing. Making streets feel more like outdoor living rooms encourages drivers to act as guests.

Speeding Decreases

The simple presence of people in the street helps reduce traffic speed.

Good for the Body & Environment

Reducing car use also reduces both speed and volume. This makes streets more livable, and frees up road and parking spaces that can be recycled into valuable community spaces including: pedestrian and cycle boulevards, green spaces for safe play, and a creative combination of shops and residences that can enhance a neighbourhood.

Save Time & Money

Most people can significantly reduce their car use (usually by 20 per cent to 50 per cent) by organizing their travel more efficiently. The rewards are a saving in time and money.

Collisions are not accidents

Our local streets are becoming speedways. Children are particularly vulnerable because they face traffic threats that exceed their understanding and abilities. Children’s physical and mental capacities are still developing well into their teens and they are often unable to make safe judgments about pedestrian safety. Drivers must be prepared for children to act like children. Reducing vehicle speed has been proven to be effective in preventing crashes and reducing the severity of injuries. A pedestrian struck by a car traveling at 50km/hr is eight times more likely to be killed than a pedestrian struck at 30 km/hr. At a speed of 30 km/hr, vehicles and pedestrians are able to co-exist with relative safety, which means that drivers have sufficient time to stop for pedestrians, and pedestrians can make better crossing decisions.

Create a Buzz in Your Community about Pace Car

Use the tools below to inform your community about this initiative, organize Pace Car volunteers, promote the program in your community and reach out to local media.